Chapter 93

Chapter 93

"If you go, I go too. I'm sticking with you. Give me five minutes." Xie Yunshen said gravely before getting up and heading to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.

Before going to the bathroom, he caught sight of the novel on the table out of the corner of his eye and surreptitiously slipped it into the tall stack of books.

If Mr. Yan knew he was a character in a novel, would it cause an existential shock?

Yan Shiqi buttoned his suit jacket and scanned the bedroom. The cabinet held a row of trophies—from the Bodyguard Association and also from motorcycle races.

In the bathroom, Xie Yunshen kept poking his head out to check if Mr. Yan was still there, afraid he might accidentally disappear.

As soon as he saw Mr. Yan studying the row of trophies, his heart sank. Sure enough, Mr. Yan frowned at the championship trophy from the motorcycle race.

Mr. Yan probably also thought participating in motorcycle races was a frivolous waste of time.

Xie Yunshen quickly spat out the foam, washed his face, and hurried out.

By the time he came out, Mr. Yan was standing before the suit of golden armor again.

Xie Yunshen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, plonked the golden helmet on his head, and said, "Can rival the Gold Saints, right?"

"In my heart, no one compares to you," Yan Shiqi said earnestly.

"No, that's a 2D character," Xie Yunshen explained with a laugh.

Mr. Yan suddenly cradled the helmet and kissed him through the golden armor. "You look good."

Xie Yunshen froze for two seconds, his brain short-circuiting, feeling dizzy. He suspected it was due to lack of oxygen inside the helmet. When Mr. Yan held his head, his heart almost stopped.

Oh my god, this is incredible. This feeling of being in love is more fatal than being shot.

Xie Yunshen quickly put the golden helmet back on the armor, caught up with Mr. Yan on the stairs, and stopped him from behind with hands on his shoulders. Mr. Yan looked up as Xie Yunshen tipped his chin up and captured his lips in a kiss.

After the kiss, Xie Yunshen, bursting with energy, jumped down the stairs and disappeared through the front door, leaving Mr. Yan alone on the stairs, smiling.

He walked out of the small building at a leisurely pace. Xie Yunshen was doing pull-ups under the horizontal bar in the yard. Seeing him come out, Xie Yunshen ran up with a smile, followed behind him, and opened the car door for him.

He really is full of energy.

Xie Yunshen got in the car with him and glanced at the driver. It wasn't the seasoned old driver he knew.

So, in this world, the Yan Group doesn't exist? Yan Shiying, Yan Shizhou, and Old Five are really gone too.

Yan Shiqi held his hand, as if seeing through his thoughts. "A Shen, I'm the only one who came to find you."

Xie Yunshen couldn't help but ask, "...How did you come to find me?"

Yan Shiqi had to offer a kind lie: "Actually, it's nothing much. One day I woke up and found my surroundings had changed."

Xie Yunshen felt Mr. Yan might not be telling the truth, but with that authoritative and calm face of his, how could he possibly lie?

So, Xie Yunshen just let it slide.

When they arrived at the villa in City D where Mr. Yan lived, it was only a little past six. The morning sun had just fully emerged from the clouds.

Xie Yunshen got out of the car and saw this Moorish-style villa.

With its conical dome and gentle stone steps that seemed to slope into the earth, the morning sunlight flooded in through the front door. Trees on both sides stood sentinel along the boundary lines of every architectural shadow.

It wasn't as grand and solemn as the Yan Family Manor. The style leaned towards peaceful, warm, and light tones.

Xie Yunshen thought Mr. Yan would prefer the black-and-white domineering CEO style.

However, when he saw the interior decoration, Xie Yunshen was surprised. The wooden spiral staircase, the study and corridor on the second floor, the ceiling lights—they were exactly the same as in the Yan Family Manor.

He ran up the stairs, pushed open the study door. A breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers from outside the window swept over him. For a moment, he thought he had returned to the Yan Family Manor.

"Mr. Yan..." Xie Yunshen looked tentatively at the person behind him, wanting to know what was going on.

Yan Shiqi explained, "I always believed you would come back. So when I originally bought this place, I had the interior decoration modified."

Xie Yunshen had already been moved several times today. His heart was racing because of Mr. Yan, to the point where he really suspected it was a dream.

He pulled Mr. Yan to the sofa beside the desk and made him sit down. A stream of light slanted in from outside, falling on one side of Mr. Yan, making even the air feel sacred.

Xie Yunshen looked at him, squinting his eyes. It was exactly the same scene as three years ago in the Yan residence.

He walked over and hugged Mr. Yan, nestling his head against his chest, feeling the long-lost yet familiar sense of security brought by the embrace.

"Mr. Yan, are you real?"

It felt too real, to the point of becoming surreal. If it's a dream, I hope not to wake up in it.

Yan Shiqi put an arm around his shoulders, took his hand, and placed it over his own heart. "Hear that? My heartbeat..."

Xie Yunshen felt the steady, strong heartbeat through the clothes and closed his eyes.

He was annoyed at his own sentimentality. Even if the Mr. Yan before him was a figment of his imagination, he shouldn't pass negative emotions to the Mr. Yan in the dream. Mr. Yan doesn't like a sentimental Xie Yunshen.

Yan Shiqi lifted his chin, forcing him to snap out of his thoughts. "A Shen... what are you thinking about?"

Xie Yunshen acted as if nothing was wrong. "Didn't you say there's a meeting today?"

Although Yan Shiqi had noticed something was off early on, he didn't force him to face reality.

In the end, Xie Yunshen still followed Mr. Yan to the company.

While crossing the lobby, Xie Yunshen keenly noticed people around them glancing at them out of the corner of their eyes.

He turned to look and immediately felt his heart race. The glaring red mark on Mr. Yan's neck looked even more obvious under the bright lobby chandelier. No wonder everyone's expression had been subtly odd along the way.

In the elevator, Xie Yunshen silently reached out and helped Mr. Yan lift his collar a bit to cover the hickey.

He had secretly given it to him last night, right on the Adam's apple. It was too suggestive.

Besides, Mr. Yan still had a meeting later.

Yan Shiqi, with a hint of amusement in his eyes, adjusted his collar back down, deliberately exposing the mark.

"This looks good."

Xie Yunshen was stunned for a moment, then suddenly covered his face with one hand. Oh my god, how could Mr. Yan be like this?

He felt his face turning red.

————

Outside the conference room, Xie Yunshen sat on a chair, head down, staring at the gleaming floor, brows tightly furrowed. The meeting had already been going on for an hour.

The passersby had moved off and started talking, but Xie Yunshen’s hearing was so good he caught every word clearly.

“Is that Chairman Yan’s younger brother?”

“Yes, he was blurred in the news, but judging by his vibe, it’s him.”

“The brother with 5% of the shares—must be his real brother.”

“I recognize him—he’s the Golden Bodyguard from the Bodyguard Association.”

“How do you know?”

“I saw him on TV once. He was a prince's bodyguard and was even asked to wear a mask because he was too good-looking. I remember it clearly.”

“Talented and good-looking—now that’s more like a chairman’s brother.”

“Right? Way better than the other one.”

“I heard that deadbeat brother is about to be released from prison.”

What? A brother being released from prison?

Yan Shiying or Yan Shizhou?

Xie Yunshen was shocked. Both of Mr. Yan’s brothers had their issues, but they were top-tier in society—how could either land in jail?

PS: Yan Shizhou might have been detained for watching inappropriate (adult) films…

Xie Yunshen grew increasingly confused.

In the corridor, the logo of Cloud Banner Group glowed.

Cloud Banner Group…

Wait, there was never a Cloud Banner Group in the novel.

No, wait—he’s in his own world now, not in some novel.

Xie Yunshen pressed a hand to his forehead, forcing himself to stay focused. His eyes glazed over as time dragged on, and his unease grew. Wait, why was he just sitting here?

Right—he was waiting for Mr. Yan.

He was waiting for Mr. Yan to come out.

When Mr. Yan went in, he’d told him to wait right here. He’d even said that if Xie was worried, he could come in and check on him.

Xie Yunshen stood up and grabbed the meeting room door handle. Barging in now would seem crazy—Mr. Yan would just worry.

He should stay put and wait—no impulsive moves.

Xie Yunshen sat back down, reminding himself over and over.

He had no idea how long it’d been when he felt warm hands hug and stroke his back from behind.

Xie Yunshen looked up into Mr. Yan’s concerned eyes and immediately hugged him, delighted.

“I called you from over there, but you didn’t hear me.” Yan Shiqi lowered his head, soothingly rubbing his palm over Xie Yunshen’s back.

“I’m sorry… Mr. Yan, I…”

“What are you apologizing for?”

Xie Yunshen held him tighter. How to explain? Only with Mr. Yan in his arms did this inner turmoil settle.

Otherwise, he would keep doubting himself, like a madman, trapped in endless worrying.

But… could he just keep holding Mr. Yan forever?

Not that he’d mind…

Wouldn’t that be too shameless?

Xie Yunshen suddenly remembered something and checked the pockets of his jacket.

“Looking for something?”

“The medicine the doctor prescribed—I think I left it at the hotel.” Last time he was waiting for Mr. Yan outside the company, he’d gone to the hotel to shower and forgot it there.

No wonder his mind had felt foggy these past two days—he hadn’t been taking his medication.

Yan Shiqi’s voice trembled slightly as he pressed, “What’s wrong with you?”

Xie Yunshen smiled. “It’s nothing. The doctor said I have delusional disorder.”

“But!” Seeing Mr. Yan’s face go serious, Xie Yunshen quickly explained, “He said it’s nothing serious.”

Yan Shiqi nodded, like he accepted that. “Where’s the prescription from? I’ll come with you.”

“No need. My next follow-up appointment isn’t for another two weeks.”

Xie Yunshen hedged. Oh god, if Mr. Yan found out what he had been telling the doctor these past few years, he would die of embarrassment on the spot.

Yan Shiqi saw right through him, his gaze soft. “I’ll wait outside. We’ll get the medicine and leave.”

How could Xie Yunshen resist such a gentle, powerful man? He was completely bewitched, his mind in a daze. “…Alright.”

At the hospital, in the Psychiatric Department.

“How’ve you been feeling lately? Any improvement?” The doctor eyed the familiar handsome face, well-used to this by now.

Xie Yunshen looked troubled. “I feel like it’s getting worse. I can’t tell reality from dreams anymore.”

“Specifically?”

“I saw Mr. Yan yesterday. He talked to me, took me home, and we even slept in the same bed…”

The doctor sighed gravely. “If you’re frequently fantasizing about such things, the problem is indeed serious.”

“Most importantly, whenever he leaves my sight, I feel extremely anxious. And when he appears, I feel like I’ve returned to normal. That must be troubling for others, right?”

“Who? Troubling for whom?” The doctor kept confirming.

“Mr. Yan, of course. Even though he keeps comforting me, I can’t control my self-doubt.”

“Still this Mr. Yan?” The doctor pointed again at the large screen outside the window. Coincidentally, it was currently showing a segment about Cloud Banner Group’s medical robots being trialed at this hospital, with an interview featuring Yan Shiqi on screen.

As soon as he saw Yan Shiqi’s image, Xie Yunshen immediately smiled and nodded. “That’s him.”

The doctor rubbed his face with both hands, seemingly baffled by how the patient's symptoms had worsened so much in just a few days.

"This looks pretty serious this time."

"I don't think this is just my imagination. If it is, can I just never wake up?" Xie Yunshen lowered his head, a look of gentle despair on his face.

Hearing this, the doctor immediately stood up and checked Xie Yunshen's pupils. "Given what you've told me, I recommend you stay for observation."

"You mean have me committed?" Xie Yunshen couldn't believe it.

"No, just for observation. When delusions get this bad, they can lead to extreme behavior. From what you've said, it's already affecting your daily life..." and worst of all, suicidal tendencies.

"Wait, is there some mistake?" Xie Yunshen tried to get up.

The doctor gave a look to a male nurse nearby, who immediately stepped forward, trying to hold him down.

Xie Yunshen immediately shouted toward the door, "Mr. Yan! Mr. Yan!"

"He's still yelling for Mr. Yan. Is this guy nuts?" the male nurse said helplessly.

"Sigh, it seems he's really far gone this time."

Just then, the door opened, and Yan Shiqi stood at the entrance. "A-Shen!"

Xie Yunshen pushed the two male nurses aside and ran over to hug him.

"They said they want to lock me up. Does that mean I won't be able to see Mr. Yan anymore?" Xie Yunshen rested his head on Yan Shiqi's shoulder.

Yan Shiqi looked at the doctor, his brow furrowed coldly. "What's the meaning of this?"

"..."

The doctor and nurses froze, all three completely baffled. They glanced at the person on the large screen outside, then at the man Xie Yunshen was clinging to, and their mouths twitched in unison.

From then on, the psychiatry department added a clear new rule.

Patients are forbidden from bringing non-fiction into the realm of their delusions and being all lovey-dovey in front of the doctor!